The two men don't know each other but they were brothers of sorts Monday leading other men through a torture test at the Bolder Boulder.

Sure, it's just 10 kilometers to you and me with a bunch of bands playing along the way and water slides and other fun and games. A 90-year-old man and plenty of kids who will be in preschool Tuesday morning completed the race this year. So what's the big deal about Dickes and Chavez?

Dickes is a firefighter with the Boulder Rural Fire Department who led five of his fellow firefighters through the 10 kilometer run wearing full gear, boots, pants, coats, helmets, oxygen tanks on their backs.

When they finally crossed the finish line after 1 hour, 44 minutes and 37 seconds, the load they each carried was significantly heavier than it was when they started because they made sure to get as wet as possible along the way trying to beat the heat.

It was the third time Dickes has done the race in full firefighting gear. His hope is to raise money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which benefits the families left behind when a firefighter loses his or her life protecting the rest of us.

Dickes didn't have any dramatic or traumatic event in his life that made him want to help those families back in 2012 when he first started these 10 kilometer Memorial Day death marches. He's just a regular guy who grew up in Lyons, graduated from Lyons High School in 2003 and wants to do what he can do make things a little easier on people who so clearly need the help.

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"I can't compare the pain those families are feeling because they lost a firefighter, their dad, their brother, a husband," Dickes said. "I do this because I want to show that support and endure a little bit of pain for them. I want to show them they're not struggling for no reason."

Dickes was joined this year by Shannon Sovndal, Alec Shogan, Aaron Kirby, Dan Cashmore, Ben Norwood.

Chavez is a Sargeant with the Lake Police Department. He led members of the West Metro Swat team through this year's Bolder Boulder in full gear including boots, helmets and bullet proof vests. It took them 1:36.26 give or take a second or two to cross the finish line.

Scott Weichert was one of the other six men who ran with Chavez.

"It's hot and it hurts," Weichert said.

Chavez began running the race in full gear four years ago to represent police everywhere and try to connect with the community in a positive way. He dedicates his race each year to someone he knows who has been struggling in life with either a health or personal problem.

"Hopefully it shines a good light on the police department, not only ours but police departments nationwide," Chavez said. "It's a good thing."

Members of the Lyons volunteer fire department also ran this year trying to raise awareness of their plight. Last year's historic flooding in the area totaled one of their engines and wiped out one of their departments. They are fighting to overcome $360,000 in costs just to get back to the capabilities they had before the floods.

The group led by Evan Patronick dropped to their bellies to do 10 pushups at each kilometer along the course, including just after crossing the finish line.

Our men and women in uniform across the world are definitely on our minds each Memorial Day at Folsom Field throughout the Bolder Boulder. Dickes, Chavez and Lyones volunteers remind us there are men and women in uniform around us every day in this community to whom we also owe our gratitude.

Ryan McKone ran the Bolder Boulder with a group of police officers on Monday. The group wore their full gear for the race. For photos and videos: www.dailycamera.com (Paul Aiken / Daily Camera)

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